Special elections

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., left, conducts a ceremonial swearing-in for Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., second from right, joined by his wife Rebecca and son Preston, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

WASHINGTON (AP) — A former Navy fighter pilot who captured a California congressional district from Democrats and a state legislator who retained a Republican-held Wisconsin seat joined the House on Tuesday, buoying a GOP seeking momentum for its uphill fight for the chamber's majority in this fall...

In this May 14, 2020, photo, owner Paul Furrer cuts the hair of Jeff Jones at Rich's Barber Shop in Waukesha, Wis. Wisconsin has been the battleground for political proxy wars for nearly a decade, the backdrop for bruising feuds over labor unions, executive power, redistricting and President Donald Trump. Now, six months before a presidential election, the state is on fire again — some might say still. With a divided state government and a polarized electorate, Wisconsin has emerged as the hot bed of partisan fighting over the coronavirus, including how to slow its spread, restart the seized economy, vote amid a pandemic and judge Trump's leadership. . (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin has been the battleground for political proxy wars for nearly a decade, the backdrop for bruising feuds over labor unions, executive power, redistricting and President Donald Trump. Now, six months before a presidential election, the state is on fire again. With a...

This undated photo provided by the Mike Garcia For Congress campaign shows candidate Mike Garcia. A swing House district north of Los Angeles is up for grabs in a contest that will be an early test for President Donald Trump as he heads toward November. Trump has been using his presidential perch to summon up support for Republican Mike Garcia, who faces Democrat Christy Smith on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 in a special election for the vacant 25th District seat. (Cynthia Smalley/Mike Garcia For Congress via AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mike Garcia grew up a single-minded kid from Southern California: He just wanted to fly fighter jets. His decision to enter national politics wouldn’t come until decades later, after he had seen one California election too many. A career as a Navy aviator would lead to a decade...

Poll worker Eric Boson submits absentee ballots during the Wisconsin 7th District special election on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, at the Oak Avenue Community Center in Marshfield, Wis. Republican Tom Tiffany and Democrat Tricia Zunker are vying to fill the vacancy left by Republican Sean Duffy, who resigned from the seat in September. (Tork Mason/The Post-Crescent via AP)

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Tom Tiffany, a state senator endorsed by President Donald Trump, easily won a special congressional election Tuesday in a heavily conservative, rural Wisconsin district, cheering Republicans even as Democrats argued the victory revealed vulnerabilities for the president among...

Democrat Kweisi Mfume removes a face mask before addressing reporters during an election night news conference after he won the 7th Congressional District special election, Tuesday, April 28, 2020, in Baltimore. Mfume defeated Republican Kimberly Klacik to finish the term of the late Rep. Elijah Cummings, retaking a Maryland congressional seat Mfume held for five terms before leaving to lead the NAACP. All voters in the 7th Congressional District were strongly urged to vote by mail in an unprecedented election dramatically reshaped by the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

BALTIMORE (AP) — Democrat Kweisi Mfume easily won a special election Tuesday to finish the term of the late Elijah Cummings, retaking a Maryland congressional seat he held for five terms before leaving to lead the NAACP. Mfume defeated Republican Kimberly Klacik in the heavily Democratic 7th...

FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2020 file photo, 25th District congressional candidate and former Navy combat pilot Mike Garcia greets supporters in Simi Valley, Calif. The fight for an open U.S. House seat in a swing district north of Los Angeles provides Republicans with a rare opportunity to gain ground in heavily Democratic California, and the outcome could send a message about where voters place their trust during the coronavirus crisis. The toss-up contest between Republican Garcia and Democrat Christy Smith will inevitably be seen as a proxy vote on President Donald Trump’s leadership during the crisis. (AP Photo/Michael Blood,File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The fight for an open U.S. House seat in a swing district north of Los Angeles provides Republicans with a rare opportunity to gain ground in heavily Democratic California, and the outcome could send a message about where voters place their trust during the coronavirus crisis...

Mike Espy readies to speak with reporters in Jackson, Miss., after winning the Democratic nomination for a U.S. Senate seat in Mississippi, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. After his victory Tuesday, he will face Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Libertarian candidate Jimmy Edwards in November. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Former U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy won the Democratic nomination for a U.S. Senate seat in Mississippi on Tuesday, setting up a rematch with Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, an outspoken ally of President Donald Trump. Republicans hold most major offices in...

FILE - In this Jan. 31, 2020 file photo, Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., is questioned by reporters as he arrives at the Capitol for the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, in Washington. Jones, the most endangered Democrat in this November's elections, said Wednesday that he will vote to convict President Donald Trump Wednesday as the Senate impeachment trial reaches its climax. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Alabama Sen. Doug Jones, widely considered the Senate's most endangered Democrat, voted Wednesday to convict President Donald Trump as the Senate impeachment trial concluded with Trump's acquittal — and Republicans will try to use Jones' vote against him as they seek to reclaim...

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — If there is going to be a comeback for California’s traumatized Republican Party — a so-called “red recovery” that could threaten Democratic control of the U.S. House — Mike Garcia wants to be part of it. The former Navy combat pilot turned Republican congressional...